By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-11-20 08:49:07 | Updated at 2024-11-27 00:44:08
6 days ago
World Cup winner Jack Brown will fly in from Australia to return to duty for an England wheelchair side seeking to see out the year in style against France.
Brown, part of the England side who won the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup two years ago, is part of a 16-strong team heading to northern France for two internationals.
Tom Coyd's squad will face Spain in Nantes on Thursday before taking on France in Saint Lo on Saturday.
Thursday's match in Nantes will be part of a double header, with the host nation playing Ireland.
Brown sat out England's 66-33 win over France in Wigan in October because of his club commitments with North Queensland Cowboys in the Wheelchair NRL.
But he is set to feature on Saturday, with Coyd expecting to give some of his fringe players a chance against Spain in the first game.
Coyd said: "As a coach, it's brilliant for me to able to have a short tour with two fixtures allowing our England performance squad to enjoy that unique experience of representing their country abroad - and spreading the word about wheelchair rugby league."
Ireland's squad includes Melanie Griffith, who is also a Para-badminton international, and James McCarthy, a two-time Paralympian who has represented his country in six sports.
"This will be a step up in intensity for much of the squad who are all excited for the opportunity on the road to the 2026 World Cup," Ireland head coach Phil Roberts said.
Thursday, 21 November, Creps des Pays de la Loire, Nantes
16:00 GMT: England v Spain
19:00 GMT: France v Ireland
Saturday, 23 November, Pole Hippique, Saint Lo
16:00 GMT: France v England
France: Pierre Botte, Thomas Duhalde, Julien Pennella (Aingirak Euskadi), Jeremy Bourson, Gilles Clausells, Nicolas Clausells, Damien Dore, Panzo Gelade, Jonathan Hivernat, Leo Hivernat, Victor Puly, Arno Vargas (Catalans Dragons), Lionel Alazard (Montauban Handisport), Thomas Candela, Lisa Lartigue (Rfc Toulon), Guillaume Dubruel (Stade Toulousain Olympique), Florian Guttadoro, Adrien Zittel (So Avignon Handi)
England: Seb Bechara (Catalans Dragons), Wayne Boardman, Rob Hawkins, Nathan Holmes (Halifax Panthers), Tristan Norfolk (Hull FC), Josh Butler, Nathan Collins, Tom Halliwell (Leeds Rhinos), Mason Billington, Joe Coyd, Lewis King, Jason Owen (London Roosters), Jack Brown (North Queensland Cowboys), Chris Haynes (Sheffield Eagles), Jack Heggie (Wigan Warriors), Adam Rigby (Wigan Warriors)
Ireland: Cian Horgan, James McCarthy, Maurice Noonan (Munster), Joseph Calcott (Halifax Panthers), Matt Wooloff, Phil Roberts, Toby Burton Carter (Wigan Warriors), Melanie Griffith, Oran Spain (Leinster), Peter Johnston (Argonauts)
Spain (names still to be added): Eric Perez, Anthony Martin (Biganos Eagles), Joe Lacombe, Mathieu Monedero, Pascal Ambrosino (Catalans Dragons), Wil Seron, Yannick Martin (Mountauban Pandas)
